Automatic start and stop attachment for phonographs



APPLICATION FILED FEB- 2, I92!- 9H 2 z w m mm m% 4 W m m m t D m w KZZ W S. KOHN. AUTOMATIC START AND STOP ATTACHMENT FOR PHONOGRAPHS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2.1921.

Patented Aug. 29, 1922.

PATENT QFFICE.

SAMUEL KOHN, or new roman. Y;

AUTOMATIC START AND STOP ATTACHMENT FOR PHONOGRAPHS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Aug. 29,1922.

Application filed February 2, 1921. Serial No. 441,852.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL KoHN, a citizen of Hungary, residing at New York, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented new and, useful Improvements in Automatic Start and Stop ttachments for Phonographs, of which the following is a specification.

Thisinvention relates to start and stop attachment for phonographs and is designed particularly for use in connection with phonographs of the type in which a rotary disc record is employed, although it may be found usefulin other and different connections.

One of. the objects is the provision of a device comprising a compact independent unit for automatically starting and stopping a talking machine and adapted to be readily attached to and used with any make of phonograph or talking machine employing the rotary disc record.

Another object is to provide a device which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and adapted to be attached to any phonograph of the disc record type, by the use of one or two screws, and which will automatically release the brake to stop the machine when the end of the selection is reached, regardlessof variations.

in the pitch of the sound-groove of the record used and no matter how long or how short the selection may be.

Still another object is the provision of a device which, while being moved or carried to operating position, releases the brake thus automatically starting the machine and which will automatically brake the turntable, stopping the machine when the reproduction of the selection on the record is completed.

I am aware that automatic start and stop devices have been used before but in all cases so far as I am aware, devices or mechanisms for this purpose have been very intricate, expensive to manufacture, and apt to get out of order readily. Also these devices have usually been permanently built with the machine and adapted only to the particular make of machine on which they have been used.

I am aware also of attachable automatic phonograph brakes which have been used,

but with these also it has been necessary to adapt the device to each separate make of machine, or to adapt the machine to receive the device. My device however is universal in that-it can be readily attached'to and work equally well on any and all makes of phonographs without the addition of any parts to the tone-arm, turntable, motor or other mechanism of the phonograph.

It is well known that in devices for this purpose heretofore used, it has been'necessary to attach cams, eccentrics or pulleys to the motor shaft or to the turn-table and to attach various other separateielements to the tone-arm or the reproducer andto the usual brake, in order to operate the devices. In contradistinction to all the above, the device embodying my invention is a complete unit in itself and can be taken bodilyand placed on any phonograph employing the record disc or transferred from' one.

phonograph to another without any more labor than fastenin one end of it to the motor board of the machine on which it is to be used.

With a device embodying my it is not necessary to use the ordinary brake mechanism or stop usually attached to the machine for by the very operation of my device, the machine is automatically started and stopped. It is also well knownthat with automatic stopping devices heretofore invention used there have always been employed two a or more co-acting movable elements which.

must move or travel simultaneously and synchronously in order to obtain the result.

In my device, however, I utilize an independent positively movable element which I term a follower, which traverses a small area of the record disc until the last sound convolution on the record has been reached by the stylus, at which time the follower ceases to move and then a second independent positively movable element, which I term the idler, comes into play to actuate a tripping lever to render the brake operative to stop the machine.

With the above and-other objects in View, my invention consists in certain novel'features of construction and in certain parts and combinations hereinafter to be described and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan view of a. phonograph equipped with an automatic start and stop mechanism embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same partly in section.

Fig. 3 is a plan view looking from the under side of the device and partly in section,

showing the relation of parts after the device has been moved to operating position but before the tone arm or reproducer has reached the follower.

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the relation of parts immediately after the braking action has taken place.

Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective of the tripping lever.

The phonograph elements are illustrated to such an extent only as is necessary for the proper understanding of the invention and are represented by the motor board or casing 1, above which is mounted the turn table 2 operated in the usual manner on the turntable shaft 3 by the usual motor (not shown). 1 is the usual tone arm carrying the sound box 5 and the stylus or needle (3 and which, when the machine is in operation, is swung inwardly by the needle which rests in the spiral sound-groove of the usual record disc 7.

An automatic start and stop device embodying the invention comprises an arm 8,

preferably channeled shape to provide a housing for the mechanism although this arm might be flat or in fact any shape. which is pivotally mounted on a supporting stud 9, adjacent to the turn table 2 of the phono raph. The other end 10 of the arm 8 is 0 set, forming an angle with the main portion of the arm and has pivotally mounted on it a cup shaped member 11 in which is set a rubber or other friction washer adapted for frictional engagement with the protruding portion of the turn table shaft 3." Attached to the upper side of the cup shaped member 11 is one end of a flexible shaft 13 connected at its other end to a re volvable worm 14 journaled between bracl ets 15 and 16 on the under side of or within the channeled shaped arm 8. Pivotally mounted on the end 10 of the arm, 8 is a lever 17 shaped to follow substantially the contour of arm 8 and provided intermediate its ends with a longitudinal recess or slot 18, and on its free end with an extension or tongue 19. Loosely slidably carried by the lever 17 is a follower 20, consisting of a body portion 21, having an angular extension or lug 22 adapted when the device is in operating position to extend into the path of the rcproduccr or sound box 5 and to be moved by it, a longitudinal. slot or recess 23 correspondi ng with and in longitudinal alignment with the slot 18 on the lever 17, and a trip ping lever 2 1 pivoted to the body portion 21 by z pivot screw 25, the tripping lever having substantially the configuration of a bell crank lever.

The follower 20 is adapted to slide loneitudinally of the lever 17 and 1S guided in its movements bythe shouldered guide pins 26 earns/e.

and 27, one end of the pin 26 being passed through the slot 18 in the lever 17 and screwed or otherwise anchored to the body portion 21 of the follower 20, and one end of the pin 27 being passed through the slot 23 in the follower 20 and screwed or otherwise anchored to the lever 17, the enlarged heads on the free ends of the guide pins 26 and 27 serving to retain the lever 17 and the follower 20 in relative operative engagement.

The follower 20 in held in its normal inactive position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 by a coil spring 28, having one end secured by a screw or other suitable fastening means 29 to a lug 30 on the lever 17 and having its other end anchored to one end of the bell crank or tripping lever 21 by a screw or other suitable fastening means 31, the adjacent ends of slots 18 and 23 contacting respectively with the guide pins 26 and 27 and serving to limit the movement of the follower 20 in one direction.

The free arm of the bell crank or tripping lever 2-1 is provided with a tooth 32 having an end 33 tapered to a thin edge and adapted for engagement with the threads of the revoluble worm 1 1 after the follower 20 has reached a predetermined point in its travel. The revoluble worm 14: has at one end a smooth reduced portion 34, the purpose for which will presently appear.

The brake comprising a U shaped member. has spaced ears 35 and 36 which straddle and encompass the spaced ears 41 on the pivot end of the arm 8, and are provided with registered openings for pivotal engagement with the supporting stud 9, the lower ear being further provided with an angular extension 37 on which is mounted a brake shoe 38 adapted for frictional engagement with the turn table 2. while a spring 39 hav ing one end secured by the screw 29 of the lug 30 and its other end anchored to the brake as at e10, tends to retain the-brake in active engagement with the turn table. The upper ear 86 of the brake is provided with a shoulder 42 for engagement with the tongue 19 on the lever 17 for moving the brake to inactive position and retaining it in such position until the tripping lever acts to release the lever 17 from such engagement.

in order to positively disengage the end 33 of the tripping lever from the threads of the worm 14 so as to allow the follower 20 to return under the influence of its spring 28 to the initial position shown in Fig. 3. the ear 36 is provided with a cam nose 43 which serves, while the device is being moved to non-operating position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, to contact with a side of the tongue 19 to swing the lever 17 outwardly on its pivot the lever 17 carrying with it' reams-7e a spring 44c. having one end secured to the screw 29 on the lever 17 and its other end secured at &6 tothe arm 8, serving to return the lever 17 to, and yielding to retain it in its normal position shown best in Figs. 1 and 3.

An extension 47 on the bracket 15 en gages the tripping lever 2% when the follower 20 is in normal position and serves to insure readjustment of the angular position of the tripping lever 24 and also to re tain the follower 2.0 in its initial position against vibration.

Vertically slidable on the stud 9 between the spaced cars 41 is an adjustable support ing collar l8, having a set screw 49 for securing it against vertical movement at any desired point on the stud 9. The stud 9 is mounted for limited universal movement and for this purpose is provided at its lower end with an enlarged cup shaped head 50, within which is confined a coil spring 51, one end of the spring bearing against the bottom of the cup and the other end bearing on the upturned edge of a countersunk recess 52 in a securing plate 53 which latter is adapted to receive screws or other fastening means 54; for securing the plate 53 to the motor board or casing 1. A flat head screw 55, with its head seated in the countersunk recess 52, extends upwardly through the spring 51 and has threaded engagement with the stud 9. It will be noted that the cup 50 extends over and bears on the outer. rim of the struck-up portion surrounding, the recess 52 as best shown in Fig. 2, thus making a flexible connection between the stud 9 and its supporting plate 53.

It will also be noted that the flexible shaft 13 extends upward from the cup shaped member 11 and then is directed through a recess 56 in the arm 8 to one end of the worm let. Fixed to the arm 8 above the protruding portion of the flexible shaft 13 is an arcuate housing 57 which also serves as a handle or finger-piece for the device.

To attach the device embodying my invention to any phonograph or talking ma chine, it is but necessary to engage afriction washer 12 over the protruding portion of the turntable shaft 3 and then to swing the other end of the arm Susing the shaft 3 as a pivot, till'the brake-shoe is in position to engage the turntable so that thesoundbox and stylus in their travel across the face of the record .will clear the arm 8. At this point the securing plate 53 is secured to the motor board 1. of the machine and the device ready for operation;

In operation the device works'as follows: When it is desired that the machine stop automatically upon completion of. the reproduction of the selection the handle 57 is grasped by the operator and the arm 8 is swung on its pivot 9 from the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1 across the face of the record till the center of the friction washer 12 is over the turntable shaft 3 when the latter is pressed down upon and firmly engaged with the shaft 3 as seen in full lines in Fig. l, the flexible connection between the stud 9 and its supporting plate permitting the lifting of the arm for the downward thrust over the shaftidwithout unduestrain on the stud or its supporting plate. In the movement of the device to operating posh tion, the brake 38 has been automatically disengaged from the turntable permitting the latter to rotate under the influence of its motor. The stylus is then placed in the outer end of the spiral sound-groove of the record in the usual way and no further attention is required till the machine has stopped and it is desired to play another rec- 0rd, at which time it is only necessary to return the arm 8 to the initial position shown in dotted lineson F 1, change the record and repeat the operation. \Vhen the ma chine is running'the turntable shaft is constantly revolving or idling'the worm 14 and the tripping lever 2d isres'tingagainst its stop 47 with its, tapered end of thetooth 32 adjacent but out of contact with the smooth portion 34: of the worm li. When the stylus has advanced. to within a short distance of the last sound-groove on the record, the sound-box will contact with the extension 22 and move with it the follower 20 in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3 and the tripping lever will be brought into inoperative engagement with the worm 1 1, the tapered end 38 of the tripping lever riding across the top of the threads of the worm until the end of the record is reached, at which time the sound-box and necessarily the follower cease to advance. At this instant the tapered end 38 of the tripping lever operatively engages the threads of the worm 1d, and the worm continuing to'revolve, carries forward the tea pered end 33 of the tripping lever and turns the later on its pivot to trip the lever 17 from engagement with the shoulder 42 on the brake lever, thus permitting the brake under the influence of its spring 39 to stop the machine. The tripping lever 24 is adjusted at such an angle that when the thread of the worm 1 turns it on its pivot 25, the distance between the worm 14 and the pivot 25 is gradually increased, causing the lever 1'? to swing on its pivot to disengage its I r cord. This also allows for various makes of records with varying numbers of grooves or convolutions to the inch, to be played without interference of the mechanism of the device.

it is apparent from the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings that I have provided a very simple, yet effective. automatic start and stop devire for phonographs and one whirh is susceptible of many modifications, without departing from the scope oi the appended claims. it will also be apparent that my device, while comprising a compact unitary structure of exceeding simplicity and of very few parts, is positively actuated throughout its movement and will operate with a high degree of oiliciency.

\Vhile the invention has been described with some particularity as to the construction, proportions and relative arrangements of the parts, the invention may be developed within the scope of the following claims without departing from the essential features thereof and it is desired that the speciti ation and drawings be read as being morely illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In combination with two moving members, a unitary structure adapted for pivotal movement across the face of one of the moving members, and means rendered operative by the stopping of the other moving member to render a brake operative to stop the first moving member.

2. In combination with a rotating element and a swinging element, a support, an arm pivotally mounted on said support for translatory or transverse movement across the face of the rotating element, a brake arranged to normally engage the rotating element, means for retaining the brake in inactive position and means to trip the brake retaining means when the swinging element ceases to move.

3. In combination with a rotating element and a swinging element, an attachable unitary structure adapted for pivotal movement across the face of the rotating element and including a brake, a follower adapted to be moved into the path of the swinging element and means rendered operative by the stopping oi the swinging element to render the brake operative to stop the rotating element.

4. In combination with a swinging member and a rotating member, a brake for the latter, a retaining lever tor holding the brake in inactive position during the normal movement of the swinging member, an idler, means for actuating said retaining lever to release the brake when said swinging member ceases to move, said means comprising a follower carried by the retaining lever and adapted while the swinging member is in motion, for inoperative engagement with the idler, and "for operative engagement with the idler when the swinging member ceases to move, to trip the brake retaining lever.

In combination with a phonograph an attachable unitary mechanism consisting of an arm pivotally mounted adjacent the turntable of the phonograph, a brake, means for retaining the brake in inactive position during the regular motion of the phonograph and automatic means for tripping the said retaining means to render the brake operative to stop the turntable.

6. An automatic start and stop mechanism for phonographs comprising an attachable unitary structure consisting of a brake normally engaging the turntable, means for holding the brake in inactive position while the tone-arm is advancing across the face of the record disc, and means for tripping the last named means to release the brake when the tone-arm ceases to advance.

7. In combination with a rotating element and a swinging element, an idler actuated by the rotating element, means operable when the swinging element reaches a pre-detcrmined point to render active 21 second means adapted for inoperative engagement with the idler while the swinging element continues to advance and for operative engagement with the idler to render a brake active to brake the rotating element when the swinging element ceases to advance.

8. In combination with a rotating element 100 and a swinging element, a brake, a retaining lever for the brake, a member slidable on the retaining lever and adapted when the 'inging element has reached a predetermined point to be moved by it in its con- 105 tinued advance, an idler, a tripping lever carried by the slidable member and having inoperative engagement with the idler during the normal advance of the slidable member and adapted for operative engagement 110 with the idler when the slidable member ceases to advance, to trip the retaining lever to release the brake for engagement with the rotating element.

9. In combination with a rotating element 115 and a swinging element, an arm pivoted adjacent the rotating element and adapted to be swung over the latter, a brake, a lever carried by the arm to retain the brake in inactive position during the normal movement 120 of the swinging element and means operable when. the swinging element ceases to move to disengage the retaining lever from the brake to render the brake active to stop the rotating element.

10. In combination with a rotating element and a swinging element, an arm pivoted adjacent the rotating element and adapted to be swung over the latter, a brake, a lever carried by the arm to retain the 130 Lee brake in inactive position during the normal movement of the swinging element and means carried by the arm, operable when the swinging element ceases to move to disengage the retaining lever from the brake to render the brake active to stop the rotating element said means comprising an idler actuated by the rotating element, a tripping lever carried by the retaining lever and adapted for inoperative engagement with the idler during part of the movement of the swinging element and for operative engagement with the idler when the swinging element ceases to move.

11. In combination with a phonograph, a unitary structure pivoted adjacent the turntable adapted when in operative position to overlie the turntable and having an element adapted for frictional engagement with the turntable shaft, said unitary structure also having means automatically op erable when the selection on therecord is completed, to stop the turntable.

12. In combination with a rotating element and a swinging element an arm adapted to overlie the rotating element and carrying an idler adapted for direct connection with the rotating element to be propelled by it, and means automatically operable when the swinging element ceases to move to be actuated by the idler to stop the rotating element.

13. In a start and stop mechanism the combination with a rotating element and a swinging element, of a brake normally tending to stop the rotating element, a retaining lever for holding the brake in inactive position during the normal movement of the swinging element, a follower slidable on the retaining lever and comprising a tripping lever and a member adapted to extend into the path of the swinging element, and means actuated by the rotating element to rock the tripping lever when the swinging ele ment ceases to move, to disengage the retaining lever from the brake.

14. In a start and stop mechanism, the combination with a rotating element and a swinging element, of a brake normally restraining movement of the rotating element, an arm pivoted adjacent the rotating element for translatory or transverse movement above the latter, means carried bythe arm to move the brake to inactive position while the arm is being moved to operating position and to hold the brake in such position during the normal movement or" the swinging element, and means operable when the swinging element ceases to move to render the brake activeto stop the rotating element.

15. In a start and stop mechanism, the I combination with a rotating element and a swinging element, a revoluble member propelled by the rotating element, and a tripping lever, means for bodily advancing the tripping lever during part of the normal movement of the swinging element, the said tripping lever being adapted for inoperative engagement with the revoluble member so long as it is being bodily advanced, and for operative engagement with the revoluble member when such bodily advance ceases.

16. In a start and stop mechanism, the combination with a rotating element and a swinging element, of a brake normally restraining movement of the rotating element, an arm pivoted adjacent the rotating element for radial movement above the latter, means carried by the arm to move the brake to inactive position while the arm is being moved radially to operating position and to hold the brake in such position during the normal movement of the swinging element, a revoluble member propelled by the rotating element, a tripping lever, means for bodily advancing the tripping lever during part of the normal movement of the swinging element, the said tripping lever being adapted for inoperative engagement with the revoluble member so long as it is being bodily advanced, and for operative engagement with the revoluble member when such bodily advance ceases to render the brake active to stop the rotating element.

17. As an article of manufacture, a complete attachable automatic phonograph start and stop unit, comprising an arm, a brake, a retaining lever for the brake, a follower, an idler and a tripping lever.

In testimony whereof I herewith afiix my signature.

SAMUEL KOHN. 

